Chino City Council challenging state on proposed plan to build additional facilities at California Institution for Men

CHINO - City Council members have authorized staff to send a letter to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation detailing their concerns with the state's proposal to build additional inmate housing facilities at the California Institution for Men in Chino.

"The City Council and I just recently learned of the CDCR's intention to build up to three 792-bed Level II Correctional Housing Facilities as well as inmate programming space, and related support buildings at existing prisons within the State; five locations are being considered and CIM is on the list of possibilities," said Mayor Dennis Yates at Tuesday's council meeting

Yates added with two existing overcrowded prisons within Chino, the community is already bearing more than its fair share of the state's prisoners, according to a city news release.

"Adding to the current prison population would have significant social and economic effects on the community as this proposed facility would be located in proximity to current and future residents, as well as Chaffey Community College, and Ayala Park, the City's largest park and sports facility," Yates said in a news release.

The council plans to fight CDCR on the placement of any new facilities on prison property until the overcrowding and on-going deferred maintenance issues are addressed.

CDCR plans to have a meeting on this project at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Jan. 30 at City Hall, 13220 Central Ave., Chino.